Renovation as a Model for the Future
Vienna Green Hub – From an Outdated Existing Building to a Climate-Neutral Flagship Project
The office building of the European Patent Office in Vienna was transformed into a state-of-the-art 'Green Hub' with the highest standards of sustainability, resource efficiency, and energy efficiency during its revitalization. With the BREEAM certification 'Outstanding', the building aims for the highest possible rating for sustainable buildings.
When the European Patent Office in Vienna reimagined the future of its outdated office building from the 1970s, three options were on the table: renovation, new replacement construction, or complete new construction. ATP Vienna, ATP sustain, and redserve were tasked with examining the various scenarios. The result was clear: the most sustainable, economically viable, and culturally valuable solution was not a spectacular new building, but a careful and intelligent renovation.
A decisive factor was the significantly lower CO₂ footprint compared to new construction. By reusing the existing structure, material-related emissions could be reduced by around 60%, preserving valuable resources - a strong argument for sustainable renovation
Jakob Schulz
Energy & Sustainability Expert at ATP sustain
Sustainable Transformation of an Existing Building
The goal of the general refurbishment was ambitious: to create a CO2-neutral, modern, and light-filled office building over its entire lifecycle, one that responds to its surroundings and brings greenery into the interior. In addition to the functional redesign in line with user requirements, the building needed comprehensive modernization, particularly in terms of the structure, fire protection, security systems, and energy supply. This included features such as a new staircase, the fire protection separation of the garage, the energy decoupling of the garden house, the transition to renewable heat supply, and the expansion of photovoltaic areas.
One of the most significant technical achievements was the retrofitting of geothermal energy through the existing garage levels. Despite the complex structural conditions, we successfully implemented this efficient solution.
Second Life for Existing Buildings
“Existing buildings naturally bring surprises. This was the case at the Patent Office,” recalls Patrick Röggla from ATP Wien: Already in the planning phase, a comprehensive hazardous substance management report revealed that asbestos-containing materials – such as in the adhesives and seals of the facade panels – had to be carefully removed. After dismantling the suspended ceilings, ceiling deformations were also revealed. Particularly noteworthy was the discovery of historic vaults under the forecourt, which we handled in close coordination with the authorities.
As part of the construction process, we were able to ensure that about 90% of the construction waste was recycled. Most of the existing furniture was passed on to third parties in the spirit of re-use - some pieces such as tables, chairs, rolling containers, and a bicycle pump can also be found in our ATP sustain office in Vienna!
Jakob Schulz
Energy & Sustainability Expert at ATP sustain
Integrated Design as a Key Success Factor
The general renovation created the conditions to achieve the goal of the European Green Deal, to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. The ambitious EPA project to be CO2-neutral by 2030 is also significantly supported by sustainable building services. Integral to the quality of this project was our integrated, cloud-based communication in the BIM model – from planning through the execution phase to facility management. The certification process for BREEAM 'Outstanding' is currently underway.
What impressed me the most was the close, integrated collaboration of everyone at ATP Wien and ATP sustain – from the competition phase to ongoing commissioning management.
Patrick Röggla
Senior Engineer HKLS in Vienna
